ANTI POACHING CRUSADER CAMPAIGNING FOR NATURAL SPECIES

Last week world wide media reports focussed on the sinister slaughter of twelve elephants inside a Kenyan game reserve. On Monday, the Kenyan government announced that the anti-poaching lobby is now a matter of national security. These events and killings, a Kenyan spokesman was quoted telling CNN, are not restricted to animals.  Rangers are being murdered too. Ruthless poachers are keen “to fuel appetites of Asian clients especially in Thailand and China.”

Most East African readers have certainly heard about this. What matters, however, are reactions and what should be done.

Is there any need for the average African living in this so- called wild continent to be concerned that animals are being for pesa? Aren’t we supposed to love meat? Wild meat is especially more delicious than domesticated cows, goats, chicken etc. One guinea fowl (“Kanga” in Swahili)-which I find tastier than chicken or duck- costs around 10,000 T-shillings in a London supermarket, for example.

I am being sarcastic of course.

Slaughtered elephants, pic by Michael Nichols courtsey of Advocate Habitat Blog...

There are two strands here.
<--more--!>

IS MR MICHELIN REALLY PUSHING A PRAM AND WHY?

So... what is Michelin?

 Michelin is one of the most known tyre brands launched in France towards the end of the 19^th century. According to Wikipedia, Michelin’s revenue was worth 17.89 billion Euros three years ago. Alongside Bridgestone (created in Japan in 1931) the two are the biggest manufacturers of this commodity in the world.

I have always found the image of Michelin funny. A tough smiling guy with rubbery valleys of muscles.  For the business and advertising student a remarkable lesson to humorous branding. No wonder Michelin tyres have been around since 1888. 

So... I was in the Gym and saw this chap who reminds me of Mr Michelin. There are all sorts of body builders. Some aim to be like legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured), winner of numerous international trophies including Mr Olympia in the 1970’s.

 By the way it is not true he was just muscles and no brains. Otherwise how would Mr Schwarzenegger become such a highly paid Hollywood actor and eventual Governor of California? And how would he win votes with a foreign accent (Austrian- German) in the USA? You tell me.

 Lifting weights and taking whatever stuff that accentuates and builds muscles, is therefore, just one side of the coin. Majority bodybuilders want to feel and look good. Looking good means thinking clever, as we shall see.  Let us agree to call him Josephat.

<--more--!>

AFRICANS AND CARIBBEANS WARNED OF EXCESSIVE SALT INTAKE

The food is excellent; everyone is praising the cook. Our Cameroon hostess is hoping to live in East Africa one day; she has a Kenyan boyfriend.

“Your rice tasted very good,” someone shrills, “what were the ingredients?”

Beaming. “I learnt that from my Swahili teacher.”

“It is Basmati rice, right?”

 “Yeah.

“What ingredients did you use?”

“Coconut and salt.”

At the mention of salt, follows a long discussion regarding dangers of sodium. Actually everything this excellent chef made has excessive salt. The chicken and duck are not only immersed and seasoned with curry, turmeric and garam masala (those great Asiatic spices) but tons of salt.

The beef and lamb are soaking and swimming in a spicy, salty stew.  The salad (meshed in egg mayonnaise, steamed carrots, tomatoes, onions, garlic and cucumber) is God forbid- embroidered if not dripping in salt. Salt is the super star here!  Salt decides piquancy, savour, feel, quality.  Then there is chilli pepper. Pilipili. Or as they say in Spanish: picante, pimiento.

 To damp the extremities of these hot flavours almost everyone across this munching table drinks some kind of liquid: fruit juice, beer, wine, water, tea. This habit of downing spicy and salty food with liquids is so common to most people –that we have come to accept it as “normal.”

 Salt attracts water and liquids- the more you take it the more grief, risk and perils to your blood. 

<--more--!>

UPSURGE OF ARMED ROBBERIES IN TANZANIA SYMPTOMS OF FUTURE DANGERS

More than twenty years ago I was part of a live band playing music at a club somewhere in South America when a chap sneaked on stage and withdrew a gun.

When I saw a weapon waving at me and at such a close range, I stammered mid sentence which made everyone alarmed. Why has the singer suddenly stopped?

By now it was roughly ten seconds since the chap had found his way to the stage; and no sooner had he exposed his gun and made his presence felt than he grabbed the microphone.

Author in action in1988...pic by legendary photographer, Clori Ferreira

Meantime, three of his mates quickly materialised, armed and equally menacing.

“Everyone get down, or I will shoot Jimmy Cliff here.”

 (Despite the serious danger I found that funny; thieves with humour and bullets at their finger tips...)

Everyone went down, ladies were robbed off their jewellery, men let go their pouches, fear loomed. But mid way, the hotel’s security guards managed to call the police and what followed was a shooting spree. No-one died, a few people were injured, yet unfortunately, the crooks escaped.

Few years later.

Beginning of 1993 I was going to a huge concert in Salvador Bahia, north eastern Brazil. Two well known and respected musicians headlined an outdoor gig. One of them, Gilberto Gill( pictured during the Montreal Jazz Festival of 2008), would later become Minister of Culture.

So we are in a large fully packed bus around four in the afternoon. Passengers of various nationalities including local Brazilians are chatting and happy. We have just driven past the splendid seaside area of Rio Vermelho (Red River) when I notice a group of four suspicious looking young males. Unlike the rest of us none has a female partner. They are closely studying and surveying us. As soon as the bus gains speed, one walks down to the end, he does not sit but  maintains a vigilant  position while his mate stays mid way; the other two take strategic areas-  near the door, and next to the driver.

LONDON MEDIA SEMINAR BRIEF REVIEW...

Twenty eight individuals attended this very apprehensive seminar. Apprehensive in the sense that some of the speakers withdrew at the last minute and only three Tanzanians were present. The rest were foreigners who love the country, former volunteers and expatriates who had worked in Tanzania- some as far back as 50 years ago.

Pensive mood and discussions...

 I chatted to a former Bwana Shamba, who roved and managed villages shortly after Uhuru was declared. The man could still greet and joke in one of the tribal languages. Smiling and jovial he told stories about local villagers he had interacted with. The former Bwana Shamba- a term that is associated with pre –Arusha Declaration times- could still remember Mbege, Ulanzi, Dengelua and Chang’aa, which he pronounced well. Swahili learners always find it hard to pronounce words like “chang’aa” called Gongo or Machozi ya Simba (these days). For the  reader who is unfamiliar with hardcore local drinks, Gongo is the crude, raw version of Konyagi - distilled, packaged and bottled 35 percent original Tanzanian whisky. Of course Gongo (or the said “chang’aa”) is stronger and much more sinister, hence the deadly name, Machozi ya Simba (lion’s tears).

Be warned.

SOAS Radio pundits and students, Rob Wilson (UK) and Debula Kimoli (Kenya) participated...

Lesson one from last Thursday’s event at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is Mmmh... what?  Most that have walked on Tanzanian soil never forget the country. May I include ones who had unpleasant experiences? I recently met a young British guy who speaks good Swahili, loves the language and the people but is slightly wary and cautious to return. One warm evening he hailed a cab in Dar es Salaam and ended being robbed. The cabbie stopped to pick up two armed thugs, who then threateningly drove him around the beleaguered city. He was forced to call his family in the UK who then sent a couple of thousand pounds- (millions of shillings) - via Western Union.

Bottom line here is that although Tanganyika of the Bwana Shamba gentleman has dramatically changed, apprehension and politics remain focussed on the “three mantras” that Mwalimu and TANU used to chant: ignorance, poverty and disease.

How can that be assessed?

Newly appointed UK Ambassador to Tanzania, Dianna Melrose (centre) with BTS man, William Fulton (right) and author (self taken I-Phone pic)...

The seminar’s goals was to look at media and democracy- born through multi-party reforms in 1992.  The seminar was organised by British Tanzania Society (created in 1975) currently presided by ex President Ali Hassan Mwinyi.

<--more--!>

JE WANAWAKE WAKITAKA KUKOJOA MAJIANI INAKUWAJE MAJUU?...

Tupo sebuleni kwa jirani yangu mmoja mwanamke. Katualika majirani kusherehekea siku ya kuzaliwa miaka themanini. Themanini nakwambia! Wanawe wawili wamewasili na wajukuu na vitukuu toka Australia na Afrika Kusini kushangilia siku hii maalum ya ajuza mcheshi, roho safi; kibibi anayependwa na kila mtu hapa mtaani ninapoishi London. 

Mama wa Kizungu na mwanae wakingojea kuvuka barabara kando ya basi la ghorofa London...picha na F Macha...

 Nyumba imetota baraka.  Harufu mbalimbali za makulaji zinazitesa pua. Vyakula vimetandazwa mezani. Viazi  Ulaya vya kuchemsha na kuoka vinavyotengeneza msosi maarufu uliovum buliwa na hawa hawa Waingereza unaojulikana kama Chips. Mboga mbichi safi za saladi, nyanya, matango, vitunguu, jibini (chizi), mikate ya kila sampuli, samaki  na kuku wa kukaanga. Kawaida karamu za Majuu hutenganisha walaji wa nyama na wasiokula nyama (Vegetarians).

<--more--!>

NINI MIZIZI YA TATIZO LA WAISLAMU KUCHOMA MAKANISA NA AMANI AFRIKA?-Sehemu ya 2

 Jumapili iliyopita tuliona namna mwanamuziki Fela Kuti  alivyoonya kuhusu imani za kigeni zilivyochangia kupotosha utamaduni wa Mwafrika.
Akasisitiza : “Ukristo na Uislamu si dini zetu...Wakristo wana fikra na tabia  za Waingereza na Wamarekani, ilhali Waislamu wana tabia za Waarabu.” 
 Msikilize mwenyewe akijieleza kinaga naga
Jadi mbalimbali duniani  zilijengwa kufuatana na mazingira na hali ya hewa. Dini zilitumia mvua, jua, radi, miti, wanyama nk,  kuabudu na kutambika.  Dini mbili kuu za Waafrika leo zimetokana na utamaduni wa Mashariki ya Kati na Wazungu.

<--more--!>